Drop cable wall entry guide assembly

ABSTRACT

A drop cable wall entry guide assembly includes a base having a generally arch shaped track for maintaining a minimum bend radius in a cable extending along a wall structure and at least part way around the track for entry of the cable into a hole in the wall structure at substantially 90° relative to the wall structure without kinking. A cover closely surrounds the track except for a cable entry portion of the track which is accessible through an opening in an upstream end portion of the cover.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a drop cable wall entry guide assembly for use in maintaining a minimum bend radius of a cable where the cable enters a wall structure of a multiple dwelling unit through a hole in the wall structure at substantially 90° relative to the wall structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Whenever a network or broadband service provider is called upon to provide broadband service to one or more multiple dwelling units of an apartment or condominium building or commercial business or the like, individual lengths of cable may be run from a main multiple dwelling unit box located for example on the outside of the building or in a closet or stairwell or other convenient location in the building to each of the units through suitable raceways attachable to the building wall structure. Cable access to each of the units is made by punching or otherwise forming a hole through an outer wall structure of the units to permit the desired amount of cable to be fished through the hole or dropped down inside the wall to a box in the units where the broadband connection is to be made. When doing this, care must be taken to prevent kinking of the cable where the cable enters the wall structure at substantially 90° relative to the wall structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a drop cable wall entry guide assembly that maintains a minimum bend radius in the cable where the cable makes a substantially 90° entry into a multiple dwelling unit relative to an outer wall structure of the unit through a hole in the wall structure to prevent kinking of the cable.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the guide assembly includes a base having a generally arch shaped track for maintaining a minimum bend radius of the cable when the base is attached to the outer wall structure with an exit end portion of the track in substantial alignment with a hole formed in the wall structure and the cable extends along the wall structure and at least part way around the track for entry of the cable into the hole at substantially 90° relative to the wall structure without kinking.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the cover is shaped to closely surround the track except for a cable entry portion of the track which is accessible through an opening in an upstream end portion of the cover.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the upstream end portion of the cover is channel shaped for receipt of an end portion of a raceway that is mountable on the wall structure for enclosing the cable leading into the guide assembly.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the channel shaped upstream end portion of the cover has a reversely curved inner wall portion that blends with an arcuate shaped inner wall portion of the cover to permit the cable to enter the track at a gradual outward inclined angle.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the downstream end port on of the cover may have a snap fit with the base adjacent an exit end port on of the track, and the channel shaped upstream end portion of the cover may have a snap fit with the end portion of the raceway that is received therewithin.

These and other objects, advantages, features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, there, comprises the features hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of drop cable wall entry guide assembly of the present invention shown mounted on an outer wall structure of an apartment or condominium of a multiple dwelling unit for maintaining a minimum bend radius of a cable where the cable makes a substantially 90° entry to the unit through a hole in the wall structure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the guide assembly of FIG. 1 showing how the guide assembly maintains the minimum bend radius of the cable.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the guide assembly of FIG. 1 as seen from the bottom side of the assembly.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the guide assembly as seen in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein the same reference numerals are used to designate like parts, and initially to FIG. 1, there is shown one form of drop cable wall entry guide assembly 1 of the present invention mounted on an outer wall structure 2 of an apartment or condominium or commercial business of a multiple dwelling unit at a desired entry point for running cable C into the unit to provide network or broadband cable service to the unit. Individual lengths of the cable may be run from a main multiple dwelling unit box (not shown) located for example on the outside of the building or in a closet or stairwell or other convenient location in the building to each of the units through suitable raceways 3 that may be attached to the outer wall structure in any convenient manner, for example, using a suitable adhesive or fasteners or the like. FIG. 1 shows an end portion 4 of one raceway 3 extending into an opening 5 in a channel shaped upstream end portion 6 of the cover portion 7 of the guide assembly. Such guide assembly 1 is used to maintain a minimum bend radius in the cable C where it makes a substantially 90° entry into the unit relative to the wall structure 2 through a hole 8 in the wall structure 2 (see FIG. 2) to prevent kinking of the cable at the entry point as described hereafter.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, guide assembly 1 includes, in addition to the cover 7, a base 10 having a generally arch shaped track 11 with outwardly extending, laterally spaced side walls 12 for guiding the cable C at least part way around the track. As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, cover 7 includes an inner wall portion 15 that closely surrounds track 11 up to the channel shaped upstream end portion 6. At that point a reversely curved inner wall portion 16 of the channel shaped upstream end portion 6 of the cover blends with an arcuate shaped inner wall end portion 17 of the cover to permit the cable C to enter the track 11 at a gradual outward inclined angle (see FIGS. 2 and 3) to prevent kinking of the cable as it extends up onto the track.

Extending axially outwardly from opposite ends of the base 10 are a pair of oppositely facing flanges 21, 22 for mounting the base on the wall structure 2 using, for example, a suitable adhesive or suitable fasteners (not shown) extending through one or more holes 23, 23′ in the respective flanges. A slot 24 is provided in flange 21 in substantial alignment with the exit end portion 25 of the track 11. This allows for passage of the cable C through the slot 24 and into a hole 8 punched or otherwise formed in the outer wall structure in alignment with the slot as shown in FIG. 2 to permit a desired amount of the cable to be fished through the hole or dropped down inside the wall structure to a box in the unit wherever the broadband connection is to be made. Any mounting holes 23 in flange 21 need to be located in spaced relation from the slot 24.

Cover 7 may be secured to base 10 and to raceway 3 in any suitable manner, for example, by providing opposed ribs 26 and 27 on the downstream end portion 28 of the cover and base adjacent the exit end portion 25 of the track and additional opposed ribs 29 and 30 on the channel shaped upstream end portion 6 of the cover and end portion 4 of the raceway 3 that is received therewithin to provide a snap fit therebetween.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain embodiment, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of the specification. In particular, with regard to the various functions performed by the above-described components, the terms (including any reference to a “means”) used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the described component (e.g., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed component which performs the function of the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one embodiment, such feature may be combined with one or more other features as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application. 

1. A drop cable wall entry guide assembly comprising a base and a cover, the base having a generally arch shaped track for maintaining a minimum bend radius in a cable when the base is attached to an outer wall structure with an exit end portion of the track in substantial alignment with a hole to be formed in the wall structure and the cable extends along the wall structure and at least part way around the track for entry of the cable into the hole at substantially 90° relative to the wall structure without kinking.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover closely surrounds the track except for a cable entry portion of the track which is accessible through an opening in an upstream end portion of the cover.
 3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the upstream end portion of the cover is channel shaped for receipt of an end portion of a raceway that is mountable on the wall structure for enclosing the cable leading into the assembly.
 4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the cover has an inner wall portion that overlies the track up to the channel shaped upstream end portion of the cover.
 5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the channel shaped upstream end portion of the cover has a reversely curved inner wall portion that blends with an arcuate shaped inner wall portion of the cover to permit the cable to enter the track at a gradual outward inclined angle.
 6. The assembly of claim 3 wherein a downstream end portion of the cover has a snap fit with the base adjacent the exit end portion of the track.
 7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the channel shaped upstream end portion of the cover has a snap fit with the end portion of the raceway that is received therewithin.
 8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the track has outwardly extending, laterally spaced side walls for guiding the cable at least part way around the track.
 9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the exit end portion of the track has a flange extending axially outwardly therefrom for use in securing the base to the wall structure, the flange having a slot extending therethrough in substantial alignment with the exit end portion of the track for passage of the cable through the slot and into a hole in the wall structure.
 10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the flange has at least one aperture in spaced relation from the slot for receipt of a fastener for securing the flange to the wall structure.
 11. The assembly of claim 9 further comprising another flange extending axially outwardly from an upstream end portion of the base for use in securing the upstream end portion of the base to the wall structure.
 12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the another flange has at least one aperture for receipt of a fastener for securing the another flange to the wall structure. 